So I made some progress on the miata this weekend. Friday I picked up another engine with 83k miles (found out last night that it had just had the tb/wp replaced as all those parts are brand new).
On Saturday I met up with Jake and picked up Evan's engine hoist and got the head off the motor that came with the car. The piston was not what I wanted to see but it was broken in half and had smacked the valves in the head. So I got new valves (2 intake, 2 exhaust) and all new seals for the valves to replace those. Once that is replaced then I will be able to put the good head on the new motor bottom end (the motor I picked up had something happen to the exhaust cam which caused it to almost melt in the oil channel at the front of the motor.
Sunday I got the motor almost all the way out. I got everything other than one last bolt on the tranny which I now have a couple ideas on how to get out. There is a bracket in the way that is keeping me from seating the sockets I was using on it.
I picked up an intake for the car from a friend of a friend and so that is officially the first part I have bought for the car haha. I have all new coolant hoses from Mazda sitting in the living room waiting to go in. Also got a deal worked out where I will be getting my dream wheels, a set of 15x7 bronze 6UL's! I will be ordering Hankook R-S3 V2's in 195/50/15 for these.
I get a lot of parts today. I get the new thermostat, oil filter, clutch alignment tool, couple gaskets, and new tail lights!
Later this week I will get my new clutch, clutch cover, timing stuff, thermal insulated intake mani gasket, random seals, head gasket, NGK spark plugs and wires, and probably some random stuff I am forgetting.